Sports
Tyrese Haliburton - English
In an eerie twist during the 2025 NBA playoffs, three of the league’s premier players – Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard – each suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
While the injuries alone were shocking, one detail has sparked speculation among fans and analysts alike: all three players wore the number 0 on their jerseys. Is it simply a bizarre coincidence, or is jersey number 0 becoming synonymous with postseason misfortune?
Tyrese Haliburton forced to leave game 7 after he went down with apparent injury
The sequence began in late April when Lillard, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, tore his Achilles in Game 4 of a tightly contested first-round series. Weeks later, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum experienced a similar fate in the Eastern Conference semifinals against New York.
Then, on the biggest stage of all-Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton went down in agony during the first quarter, clutching his lower right leg. Later, his father confirmed what many feared: it was a torn Achilles.
Each player, a cornerstone of their respective franchise, was playing a pivotal role in their team’s playoff run. Haliburton, notably, had been dealing with a calf strain for several games and had opted to play through it. In a comment just days before Game 7, he stated, “I know the risks, I know everything that comes with it. I just had to hear it was OK.”
When Haliburton collapsed to the hardwood, it marked the third Achilles injury in under two months involving a No. 0 jersey. Social media was quick to catch on, with fans declaring, “Every player who tore their Achilles these playoffs wore number 0. That jersey is cursed.”
Curse or pure coincidence?
While it’s tempting to assign deeper meaning to the situation, sports medicine professionals are urging caution. Achilles tendon injuries are among the most serious in sports and often result from cumulative fatigue, prior strain, or poor recovery – certainly not anything related to a jersey digit.
Still, the statistical rarity of this alignment can’t be ignored. Achilles ruptures are already uncommon in a single postseason. To have three in one year-affecting players with the same number and all of them stars – adds to the uncanny nature of the pattern.
Compounding the mystery is that each player was in the midst of a heavy-minute, high-pressure playoff schedule. As the postseason grinds on, the intensity increases, and so does the wear and tear on the body. Haliburton was receiving round-the-clock treatment to stay on the court. Tatum was playing through increased physical demands. Lillard, ever the competitor, had also pushed through prior soreness before his breakdown.
Ultimately, what ties these injuries together more than a jersey number is the sheer physical toll of the NBA playoffs. Elite players are logging 40+ minutes in high-impact situations with minimal rest. The Achilles tendon, though strong, is susceptible to rupture under repetitive stress – especially when already strained.
The real culprit behind increased injuries
There’s growing concern among franchises and trainers that player workloads during the postseason are becoming unsustainable. Experts are calling for enhanced monitoring, injury prediction protocols, and better pacing to reduce catastrophic outcomes.
While fans may joke about a “cursed” jersey, the league may be dealing with a deeper issue related to athlete health and injury prevention. The coincidence around jersey No. 0 is compelling, but the pattern suggests a broader conversation needs to happen about how the NBA handles player conditioning through the long and grueling playoff stretch.
As for Haliburton, Tatum, and Lillard, all three face long recoveries. Achilles injuries typically require 9-12 months of rehab, meaning the start of their 2025-26 seasons is in jeopardy. But each has expressed determination to return stronger.
In the end, whether the number 0 truly carries a hex or not, one thing is clear: this postseason has reminded the league just how fragile greatness can be – and how quickly it can disappear in a single step.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
VSR explica o ‘nada polêmico’ critério de desempate do Mundial de Clubes: “Não tem invenção”
Logo da Copa do Mundo de Clubes da Fifa (Divulgação/Fifa)Jornalista da TNT Sports procurou esclarecer o regulamento da Copa do Mundo de Clubes da Fifa que vem confundindo alguns torcedoresA Copa do Mundo de Clubes da Fifa vem fazendo sucesso entre os torcedores no Brasil. Ao mesmo tempo, os mesmos admitem um falta de compreensão dos critérios de desempate dentro dos grupos entre as equipes com o mesmo número de grupos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEDiferentemente dos demais torneios como a Copa do Mundo de seleções, quando o saldo de gols simples determina a equipe classificada, o Super Mundial de Clubes considera apenas os confrontos diretos entre os times empatados em ponto.Em seu canal no YouTube, Vitor Sérgio Rodrigues, o VSR, explicou de forma didática o regulamento diferente da competição. Para o jornalista da TNT Sports, os torcedores ainda não compreenderam a razão […]
Drama, Delusional, Bold: One Word That Describes Every NFL Team’s Offseason
Ben Arthur NFL Reporter <!--> After all the wheeling, dealing and drafting this offseason, NFL teams have sparked volumes of words, both written and spoken. But sometimes one word says it all. So as the league breaks for the summer, we're assigning one word to encapsulate what each team has done over the past several months. And we explain why each word sums up where each franchise stands going into the 2025 season. Here’s the breakdown:Atlanta FalconsMishandled: The Falcons could have a big problem if Kirk Cousins is still on the roster come the regular season. What happens if 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. struggles, and Atlanta is tempted to go back to the veteran? Kirk Cousins' continued presence on the Falcons' roster could become an issue for the development of second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty […]
Xander Bogaerts has underperformed for the Padres. He’s also been quite unlucky
SAN DIEGO — The sun was beginning to set over Dodger Stadium when Xander Bogaerts took his first swing last Wednesday, grounding into a force out to end the top of the first. For the veteran shortstop, it was an odd experience. Only once before in his career, Bogaerts later recalled, had he avoided taking a practice swing before the start of a game.Advertisement“Yeah, I don’t do that,” Bogaerts, 32, said. “But, I mean, sometimes f— it, maybe.”The drastic measure preceded temporary catharsis. In the third year of an 11-year, $280 million contract with the San Diego Padres, Bogaerts began the day batting .227 with a .615 on-base plus slugging percentage that ranked 10th-worst among qualifying big leaguers. He ended his night at the plate by lacing a 112.2 mph double — one of the hardest hits of his career […]
Giants takeaways: After they outslugged the Red Sox, their schedule is setting up nicely
SAN FRANCISCO — It was one of those rare afternoons on the shores of McCovey Cove. The wind was blowing out, the sun was shining and the San Francisco Giants’ waterfront ballpark played extra small Sunday. The Giants hit three home runs, weathered three from the visitors and took advantage of a misplay in the seventh inning to claim a 9-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox.AdvertisementMike Yastrzemski one-hopped a drive into McCovey Cove for his first home run since April 30. Willy Adames roped his ninth homer of the season down the left-field line and skipped around third base. But it was Casey Schmitt’s topspun solo shot in the fifth inning that represented the most remarkable piece of contact in the seesaw game. The low line drive left the bat at 111.4 mph and skipped off the top of […]
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Jose Soriano delivers another gem; Jurickson Profar prepares for return
No headline from this weekend could possibly top that of Chase Burns, the game's top pitching prospect, being promoted to start Tuesday's game against the Yankees. He needed less than a year to traverse the Reds' entire minor-league system, following a similar trajectory to Paul Skenes. I've gone into greater detail elsewhere, but you shouldn't need a waiver wire article to tell you to add him wherever he's available. That's the good news. The bad news is that we've lost a Cy Young contender, Braves left-hander Chris Sale, for some length of time with a fractured rib. The 36-year-old suffered the injury on a diving play in the ninth inning of his near-complete game against the Mets last Wednesday. What's weird is that he didn't wince on the play and even stayed in to strike out another batter, Pete Alonso. […]
Who is Jasmine Rae Hammond, the alleged model girlfriend of Shedeur Sanders?
Shedeur Sanders, the rising NFL quarterback and son of Deion Sanders, has long attracted attention on and off the football field. But lately, headlines haven't only focused on his game. Instead, fans have turned their attention to a model and influencer named Jasmine Rae Hammond, rumored to be the young star's girlfriend. Shedeur Sanders wins over Cleveland kids as Browns fans declare him their QB1 and future GOATAlthough neither Sanders nor Hammond has confirmed the relationship publicly, a growing number of details, public sightings, and social media breadcrumbs have fueled speculation.Known professionally as Jasmine Rae, Hammond has established herself as more than just a rumored partner of a football star. She's a model, creative director, and entrepreneur with a growing digital footprint. Her social media platforms, particularly Instagram, boast over 850,000 followers. On her profile, she proudly identifies as a […]
Related
VSR explica o ‘nada polêmico’ critério de desempate do Mundial de Clubes: “Não tem invenção”
Logo da Copa do Mundo de Clubes da Fifa (Divulgação/Fifa)Jornalista da TNT Sports procurou esclarecer o regulamento da Copa do Mundo de Clubes da Fifa que vem confundindo alguns torcedoresA Copa do Mundo de Clubes da Fifa vem fazendo sucesso entre os torcedores no Brasil. Ao mesmo tempo, os mesmos admitem um falta de compreensão dos critérios de desempate dentro dos grupos entre as equipes com o mesmo número de grupos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEDiferentemente dos demais torneios como a Copa do Mundo de seleções, quando o saldo de gols simples determina a equipe classificada, o Super Mundial de Clubes considera apenas os confrontos diretos entre os times empatados em ponto.Em seu canal no YouTube, Vitor Sérgio Rodrigues, o VSR, explicou de forma didática o regulamento diferente da competição. Para o jornalista da TNT Sports, os torcedores ainda não compreenderam a razão […]
Drama, Delusional, Bold: One Word That Describes Every NFL Team’s Offseason
Ben Arthur NFL Reporter <!--> After all the wheeling, dealing and drafting this offseason, NFL teams have sparked volumes of words, both written and spoken. But sometimes one word says it all. So as the league breaks for the summer, we're assigning one word to encapsulate what each team has done over the past several months. And we explain why each word sums up where each franchise stands going into the 2025 season. Here’s the breakdown:Atlanta FalconsMishandled: The Falcons could have a big problem if Kirk Cousins is still on the roster come the regular season. What happens if 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. struggles, and Atlanta is tempted to go back to the veteran? Kirk Cousins' continued presence on the Falcons' roster could become an issue for the development of second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty […]
Xander Bogaerts has underperformed for the Padres. He’s also been quite unlucky
SAN DIEGO — The sun was beginning to set over Dodger Stadium when Xander Bogaerts took his first swing last Wednesday, grounding into a force out to end the top of the first. For the veteran shortstop, it was an odd experience. Only once before in his career, Bogaerts later recalled, had he avoided taking a practice swing before the start of a game.Advertisement“Yeah, I don’t do that,” Bogaerts, 32, said. “But, I mean, sometimes f— it, maybe.”The drastic measure preceded temporary catharsis. In the third year of an 11-year, $280 million contract with the San Diego Padres, Bogaerts began the day batting .227 with a .615 on-base plus slugging percentage that ranked 10th-worst among qualifying big leaguers. He ended his night at the plate by lacing a 112.2 mph double — one of the hardest hits of his career […]
Giants takeaways: After they outslugged the Red Sox, their schedule is setting up nicely
SAN FRANCISCO — It was one of those rare afternoons on the shores of McCovey Cove. The wind was blowing out, the sun was shining and the San Francisco Giants’ waterfront ballpark played extra small Sunday. The Giants hit three home runs, weathered three from the visitors and took advantage of a misplay in the seventh inning to claim a 9-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox.AdvertisementMike Yastrzemski one-hopped a drive into McCovey Cove for his first home run since April 30. Willy Adames roped his ninth homer of the season down the left-field line and skipped around third base. But it was Casey Schmitt’s topspun solo shot in the fifth inning that represented the most remarkable piece of contact in the seesaw game. The low line drive left the bat at 111.4 mph and skipped off the top of […]
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Jose Soriano delivers another gem; Jurickson Profar prepares for return
No headline from this weekend could possibly top that of Chase Burns, the game's top pitching prospect, being promoted to start Tuesday's game against the Yankees. He needed less than a year to traverse the Reds' entire minor-league system, following a similar trajectory to Paul Skenes. I've gone into greater detail elsewhere, but you shouldn't need a waiver wire article to tell you to add him wherever he's available. That's the good news. The bad news is that we've lost a Cy Young contender, Braves left-hander Chris Sale, for some length of time with a fractured rib. The 36-year-old suffered the injury on a diving play in the ninth inning of his near-complete game against the Mets last Wednesday. What's weird is that he didn't wince on the play and even stayed in to strike out another batter, Pete Alonso. […]
Who is Jasmine Rae Hammond, the alleged model girlfriend of Shedeur Sanders?
Shedeur Sanders, the rising NFL quarterback and son of Deion Sanders, has long attracted attention on and off the football field. But lately, headlines haven't only focused on his game. Instead, fans have turned their attention to a model and influencer named Jasmine Rae Hammond, rumored to be the young star's girlfriend. Shedeur Sanders wins over Cleveland kids as Browns fans declare him their QB1 and future GOATAlthough neither Sanders nor Hammond has confirmed the relationship publicly, a growing number of details, public sightings, and social media breadcrumbs have fueled speculation.Known professionally as Jasmine Rae, Hammond has established herself as more than just a rumored partner of a football star. She's a model, creative director, and entrepreneur with a growing digital footprint. Her social media platforms, particularly Instagram, boast over 850,000 followers. On her profile, she proudly identifies as a […]
Be the first to leave a comment